Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/242

218 through revenge, or for the glory which may God grant to every one."

"Who is the most famous among you?"

"There is one, and it would be better for a German to look at death than see him; they call him Yurand of Spyhov."

The young knight's heart quivered when he heard this name; he determined at once to draw Yendrek by the tongue.

"I know," said he; "I have heard of him; he is the man whose daughter Danusia was Princess Anna's damsel till she was married."

As he said this he looked carefully at the eyes of the Mazovian, stopping the breath in his breast almost; but the other answered with great astonishment: "Who told you that? She is a damsel. True it happens that damsels marry, but Yuraud's daughter is not married. Six days ago, when I rode away from Tsehanov, I saw her with the princess. How could she marry in Advent?"

Zbyshko, while hearing this, used all his strength of will to avoid seizing the Mazovian by the neck and shouting, "God reward thee for the news!" but he restrained himself, and said,—

"I heard that Yurand gave her to some one."

"The princess, not Yurand, wanted to give her in marriage, but she could not go against Yurand's will. She wanted to give her to a knight in Cracow, who made a vow to the girl, and who is loved by her."

"Is he?" cried Zbyshko.

At this Yendrek looked at him quickly, smiled, and said,—

"Do you know, somehow you are terribly curious about that girl?"

"I am curious about acquaintances to whom I am going."

Little of Zbyshko's face could be seen under the helmet,—barely his eyes, his nose, and a small part of his cheeks,—but his nose and his cheeks were so red that the crafty Mazovian, who was given to jesting, said,—

"It is sure that your face has grown as red from cold as an Easter egg."

The young man was still more confused and answered, "Sure."

They moved on, and rode some time in silence; only the horses snorted, throwing out columns of steam from their nostrils, and the foreign knights began to jabber among themselves. After a while, however. Yendrek asked,—

"What is your name, for I did not hear well?"